On Monday, Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met a Kuomintang (KMT) delegation from Taiwan to promote passenger and cargo flights across the Straits.

Chen said the mainland is willing to continue thinking over the demands and practical interests of the people of Taiwan and adopt flexible, pragmatic and efficient methods to help achieve direct flights as early as possible.

"For a long time, we have showed the utmost sincerity and kindness in efforts to promote cross-Straits exchanges," said Chen.

He said the mainland has recently taken a series of substantial and effective measures to achieve peace and stability across the Straits that have been praised by Taiwan's people and drawn wide attention and appreciation from the international community.

Chen cited President Hu Jintao's call for normalizing cross-Straits passenger flights like those conducted during the Spring Festival this year, and holding unofficial talks on cargo flights.

The KMT delegation was led by Tseng Yung-chuan, director of the KMT's central policy committee.

(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2005)